Building-wall and blocks for forming same.



PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904.

W. WHITMORB. BUILDING WALL AND BLOCKS FOR FORMING SAME.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 26, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

flit 6 Ma r Ila, r05 L46 z't-finar'e dQMM substantially twice the thickness.

UNITED STATES Patented June 28, 1904.

WILLARD WHITMORE, OF COLON, MICHIGAN.

BUILDING-WALL AND BLOCKS FOR FORMING SAME. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,945, dated June 28, 1904.

Application filed October 26, 1903. Serial No. 178,574. (No model.)

T0 ail w/wm it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLARD WHITMORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Colon, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Building-VValls and Blocks for Forming Same, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to building-walls; and the invention consists in the peculiar construction of the blocks employed for the building of the wall and, further, in the manner in which the said blocks are assembled in relation to each other, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of aportion of abuilding-wall constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the blocks used for the straight portion of the wall. Fig. 3 is a similar View of a corner-block.

It is customary in the building of walls in which oblong rectangular blocks are employed to proportion said blocks so that the length is exactly twice the width of the block and The reason for this proportion is that in the layingof superposed courses of blocks the joints between blocks in one course are arranged at the middle of the blocks in the lower course, and in order that the blocks may be even at the corners it is necessary to have the width exactly one-half the length. Such a proportion is suitable for walls of ordinary thick-.

ness; but where it is desired to form thicker walls if the same proportion is maintained it will result in forming a large and heavy block, which is diflicult to handle. Furthermore, where the front faces of the blocks are paneled a better appearance is produced by limiting the size of the block.

One of the objects of my invention is to obtain aconstruction of building-block which is adapted for the building of thick hollow walls having relatively wide air-spaces therein. At the same time it is an objectto limit the block to the size ordinarily used and to adapt it for the formation of corners and the proper breaking of joints in superposed courses.

It is a further object to obtain a better mortar-joint between blocks by the peculiar construction of projecting spacing-lugs at the ends of the blocks and the peculiar formation and arrangement of mortar-grooves.

As shown in Fig. 2, the proportion of the block A employed for forming the straight portion of the wall is of a width greater than one-half the length and preferably, substan' tially, two-thirds thereof. The thickness of the block is something less than one-half of the length, so that the outer face, which is visible when the wall is built, is of the same proportion and size as used in the ordinary building-wall. Its outer face is preferably provided with the central panel B, which may be either smooth or rough face and projects out beyond the marginal portion C. The edges of this front face are also preferably beveled at a and concave, so that when the blocks are assembled there will be formed grooves surrounding the plane'margin C of each block.

D is a corner-block. (Shown in Fig. 3.) At one end, E, this block is the same width in relation to the length as the block Athat is, more than one-half and preferably-two-thirds. The opposite end, F, is, however, reduced in width to exactly one-half the length, and this produces an L-shaped block, the length of the portion reduced in width being equal to the maximum width of the main portion.

Both of the blocks A and D are preferably formed with hollow spaces G therein, and the meeting ends are formed, as shown, with the angle-grooves H, extending vertically, and the central lug I,which projects beyond the plane of the end. The object of this lug is to provide a space for the mortar between adjacent blocks and extending completely around the central lug. These spaces join at the front and rear with the angle-grooves H, so that the of the adjacent angling wall. In either case the end F is exposed at the corner, and as this end is exactly one-half the length of the block it will permit of arranging the joints in the second course midway between joints in the first course. WVhen one of the blocks D is arranged transverse to the block A, the end of the latter will fit into the cut-away spaces, with the shoulder 7) fitting against the inside face of the block A. In the superposed course the block D is arranged oppositely, as shown in dotted lines at 0 in Fig. 1. This will break the joints and form a strong construction of corner.

The block D is preferably provided with the grooves upon the side of the portion of reduced width which correspond to the grooves at the ends of the block fitting thereagainst. Both blocks are also preferably provided with recesses I at the longitudinal center thereof, so that when a second course is laid the grooves H at the ends Will register with the recesses I of the lower course. This will permit the mortar to run down and fill the recess 1 and lock the cement keys to the lower course as well as lock the separate blocks together. As

shown, these recesses I are in the form of cross-grooves; but they may be of any suitable form.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A building-block having a vertical groove extending from top to bottom at its end for forming a plastic key between adjacent blocks, said blocks being also provided with a recess at its longitudinal center forming a contact with the end groove in a superposed block whereby the plastic keys will interlock superposed courses.

2. A building-block having the end thereof formed with a centrally-arranged projecting spacing-lug leaving an annular surrounding recess for the reception of the mortar and connecting with vertically-extending groovesfor forming mortar keys.

3. A building block having verticallygrooved ends for forming the cement or mortar keys between adjacent blocks, said blocks being also provided with a recess at its longitudinal center forming a contact at the base of the groove in a superposed block whereby the cement keys will interlock superposed courses.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLARD WHITMORE.

WVitnesses:

J OIIN W. Lovurrr, MARY E. Lovn'r'r. 

